By CHARLENE PAUL
Moapa Valley Progress
Does the idea of doing family history conjure up visions of traipsing through long-forgotten, overgrown cemeteries or rummaging through dusty boxes filled to overflowing with old yellowed papers for names and dates? If so, you aren’t alone.
But on Saturday, March 10 approximately 150 people from all over Moapa Valley gathered at the Logandale Stake Center for the Family History Fair, an even to learn that seeking out ancestors is so much more. From learning how to upload pictures, stories, and documents to web indexing; from how to avoid errors and mistakes to exploring partner sites like Ancestry.com; attendees were treated to a day of discovery which was organized and put on by the LDS Logandale Stake.
The free Family History Fair was a non-demoniational event which welcomed members of the community from every religious background. All that was needed was an interest in one’s ancestry and origin.
“We have found that families who make the effort to know where they come from are better adjusted family,” Mendis Cooper of the LDS Logandale Stake Presidency told attendees in the opening meeting of the event. “So, we hope that you can find something that you can do to strengthen your family relationships.”
Cooper thanked Marvin Leavitt and his wife Pat for organizing the Fair. “The Leavitts have done such a fantastic job with this event,” he said. “They have brought experts from all over the west to give instruction. We appreciate all of their work to put on such a quality event for the community.”
Those in attendance could choose which of a myriad of classes to attend. Three 90-minute class periods were offered with three classes held during each period. In total, there were 13 unique classes to choose from.
“We are so happy with the presenters at this year’s event,” said Marvin Leavitt. “We have some real experts here with a lot of experience and they are teaching some valuable things.”
The topics were diverse, and the only disappointment was in not being able to attend each and every class. There was a class devoted to beginners in the field. Another class was geared toward people who think that all of their genealogy might already be done. Then there were more advanced topics like using census records and researching civil documents in England, Wales and Scotland. There was even a session about uploading and recording pictures, stories and documents to preserve those memories for future generations.
The goal of the Family History Fair was to ignite interest in doing family history work. “Last year, our Family History Center attendance spiked up by 70-percent in the weeks right after the Family History Fair,” Leavitt said. “So, we think it really helped to get people enthused about going after their history. Past fairs have been effective in raising interest in the area about family history work.”
This year’s event was a success and those who attended are sure to spread the word about the resources available to make family history research fun and rewarding. Sure, you can traipse through old cemeteries or rummage through boxes of faded, yellowing papers, but if you have questions about how to get started or how to continue your search for your ancestors, talk to Marvin. He is sure to steer you in the right direction.
